Mary Donnelly, Senior Clinical Psychologist

Mary is a Senior Clinical Psychologist and a Chartered Psychologist of the Psychological Society of Ireland (membership number M10544C). Mary has worked for over 20 years in her role as a Clinical Psychologist with children, adolescents, families and adults.

Mary obtained a Bachelor of Social Science at the University of Cape Town, and a Bachelor of Social Science Honours in Psychology and her Master of Social Science in Clinical Psychology from Rhodes University, South Africa. She worked in the South African public Adult Mental Health Hospital Services, with individuals with needs associated with mood disorders, psychosis, addiction, high risk behaviours, and trauma. During this time, Mary additionally worked in the public Children’s Health Services providing psychology assessments to children presenting with needs associated with neurodevelopmental disorders. Mary also supervised Clinical Psychology Trainees for six years at Rhodes University. She then co-founded a private Mental Health Psychology service in 2007, where she worked for twelve years with children, adolescents, adults and families, before moving to Ireland in 2019.

Mary received full validation of her Clinical Psychologist qualification by the Irish Department of Health Validation Unit in 2019. Mary joined Cope Foundation (now Horizons) in 2020 and worked as a Senior Clinical Psychologist in their Autism service, which became a Children’s Disability Network Team in 2021. Mary gained experience during five years in the CDNT services, working in interdisciplinary teams supporting children with complex needs associated with a range of neurodevelopmental differences and difficulties. Mary currently works in private practice.

Mary developed a deep interest in working with children and adolescents presenting with Autistic experience. Mary is dedicated to the neuroaffirmative approach to understanding neurodivergence, which she brings to her child and adolescent Autism identification (assessment) and intervention support work. Mary developed specialised skills in the area of Autism identification and support by being fortunate to work with, and learn from, a range of exceptionally experienced clinicians pioneering an inclusive and neuroaffirmative approach to helping Autistic children and young people, and their families, in their journey towards understanding their own neurodivergence. Mary is proud to be Autistic herself, and is a deeply compassionate person who brings her personal understanding and a sense of joy to her work with neurodivergent children and their families.